How to Wear White Eyeliner, and the 8 Best White Eyeliners to Try

Hey, I get it—sometimes, it’s scary to try something new. But trust me when I say that white eyeliner is the one product you should leave your comfort zone for. Because though the color (or … noncolor) might seem scary at first, it’s actually kind of magical once you get the hang of it.

Like, it basically fakes a full night’s sleep. “White eyeliner not only makes your eyes look larger, but also makes you look more awake,” says makeup artist Geo Brian Hennings. And, major plus, it’ll cancel out any signs of a hangover, allergies, quarter-life crisis, etc., regardless of your skin tone. Convinced? Skeptical? Confused? Great—I’m here for all of it. So keep reading to find out exactly how to use white eyeliner, and which ones are the very best.

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How to Wear White Eyeliner

Now that you know what white eyeliner does to your eyes, here’s how to actually wear it: Just gently rim your waterline (the part right above your lower lashes, closest to your eyeball) from corner to corner, and then scribble a bit on the inner V of your eyes too. “Lining your waterline with white liner is probably the easiest way to use white eyeliner,” says Hennings. “It instantly makes your eyes look brighter, like you’re ready for the day.”

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But for a fun, next-level look, you can also wear it solo and create a cat eye. “Just trace your upper lid with a white pencil and flick the pencil toward the outer corner of your eye, like you’re drawing a check mark,” says Hennings. Other ways to wear the look? Double up your liners (apply a black liquid liner first, then add a white line on top), or brighten up the inner corners of your eyes (the Vs) only.

Ready to switch out your black liner for white? Check out the 10 absolute best white eyeliners for your waterline, your lids, or anywhere else you want to scribble it on.

The Best Long-Lasting White Eyeliner

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

This liner is called 24/7 for a reason—it lasts all day long. The gel-like pencil means it glides on smooth, with no annoying pulling or tugging when you’re applying it, and the formula stays soft for about 30 seconds (just in case you want to blend), before it dries down to a smudge-proof finish.

Best White Eyeliner That’s Easy to Blend

Mac Eye Kohl Liner

If you’re trying out a smoky eye, you’re going to want to grab this kohl eyeliner. The formula of the pencil is soft and smudgy, giving you an opaque color payoff that’s easy to blend out. Just apply a thick line across your upper lid, close to the lash line, then gently smudge it up and out with your clean finger or a smudge brush.

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Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Go ahead and grab this liner if you’re a newbie to the eyeliner game. It has a thin, marker-like tip that’s easy to use and won’t smudge on your lid. The formula also goes on smoothly, so you’ll be able to create all the looks, from thin, precise lines to thick, bold strokes.

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Shiseido Kajal Ink Artist Shadow, Liner, Brow

This eyeliner does more than just, you know, line your eyes—it can also be used as an eyeliner, eyeshadow, and a brow pencil (if you’re feeling especially bold). It also comes with a built-in sponge to blend out all of your looks to a sheer finish. Yes, please.

Best Drugstore White Eyeliner

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil

Good doesn’t have to mean expensive, and this white eyeliner is proof. Not only is it less than $5, but its jumbo size also makes it perfect to use if you’re going for a thick cat eye, or as an allover eyeshadow. Just fill in your lid with the pencil, then gently blend.

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Nars Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner

Take your new-and-improved look from work to happy hour (and then to dinner, to second happy hour, to that Hinge hookup…) with this liner. It’ll give you an intense color that dries quickly and won’t budge for about 12 hours (aka no annoying transfer onto your lids), which means you also won’t feel it every time you blink.

Best Waterproof White Eyeliner

Kat Von D Cake Pencil Eyeliner

Inspo for this waterproof eyeliner comes from the OG “cake eyeliner”—a highly pressed, hella-pigmented eyeliner that requires water, a brush, and a ton of practice to apply. This liner’s application is, thankfully, a lot simpler, but still has the same opaque color payoff. Just draw it across your lash line, and you’re good to go.

Best Liquid White Eyeliner

Dior Diorshow On Stage Liquid Eyeliner

Usually, liquid eyeliners can be tough to apply and a bit unforgiving if you’re too heavy handed. But this liner’s fine, felt-like tip makes it precise and easy to use. The liquid slides right on—no tugging at all—so you can make the cleanest, sharpest lines without any jagged marks.

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Ama KwartengAma Kwarteng is the Beauty Assistant at Cosmopolitan, covering all things hair, skin, makeup, for both print and digital.

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